The annual fee for BBC programming is set to increase by £3.50 - the current £147 is to rise to £150.50.

Only last year saw the cost of a licence was increased - the first rise since 2010. The fee is now set to rise in line with inflation for five years.

The licence fee applies to anyone watching or recording TV programmes as they are shown on TV, or watching or downloading BBC programmes via iPlayer.

The charge applies whether a TV set, computer, or any other equipment is used.

Anyone buying or renewing a licence after April 1 will pay the new fee, while those already buying a licence on an instalment scheme which started before April 1 – such as monthly direct debit or weekly cash payments – will continue to make payments to a total of £147 until their licence comes up for renewal, reports the Mirror.

Licence fee payers will receive a payment plan or reminder reflecting the new amount when their licence is next due for renewal.

TV Licensing, who collect the licence fee, will be advising fee payers due to renew in March to pay on time so that they will pay the current rate of £147. Anyone buying a new licence before April 1 will also pay the current rate.

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News of the price hike comes as the BBC are facing criticism over gender pay equality. China editor Carrie Gracie quit her role after the debacle, which has also seen several male news presenters take a pay cut in solidarity.

It is currently the law to own a TV licence if you watch or record TV programmes, even if you only watch on catch-up service iPlayer.

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Do I need a TV licence?

If you watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, or if you download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer including live, catch up or on demand.

This also applies to any provider you use and any device, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

How do I get a discount?

As TV licences apply to addresses, not individuals, as long as someone qualifying for a discount lives at your address and the licence is in their name, the whole house benefits.

So who gets a discount? Well, older Britons don't need a TV licence.

That means when you reach the age of 75, you can apply for a free over 75 TV Licence . They last 3 years and will be sent out provided you give them your national insurance number. In fact, if you're 74, you can even apply for a short-term licence to cover up up until your 75th birthday.

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Secondly, while it's not free, anyone who's blind (severely sight impaired) can get half-price TV licences. Again, this means the rest of the house is covered too.

If you're renting, you don't need a separate TV licence for your room if you have a relationship with the homeowner (and live in their main house) or a joint tenancy agreement - but do need one if you have a separate tenancy agreement for just your room.

There are also other times you might be able to get money back - for example if you're a student you can currently get a £37 refund.

What can you watch without a TV licence?

If you’re not watching or recording live TV, you don’t need a licence.

So catch-up TV, streaming or downloading programmes after they’ve been shown or programmes available online before being shown on TV don't count.